APPLETON — Crosby Edward "Ted" Johnson, 89, passed away March 17, 2017, in Englewood, Fla., in much the same way as he lived his life, with gratitude, dignity and strength, and with the love of his family by his side.

Ted was born Sept. 15, 1927, to Crosby Lincoln and Helen (Meservey) Johnson at their riverside home in North Appleton, Maine.

Ted was a life-long resident of Appleton. He started his career at Robbins Lumber at the age of 16 and went on to become a self-employed logger. He attended local schools and graduated from Appleton High School. Through his hard work he was able to purchase several acres of woodland in Peasetown. This became his haven and he spent much of his life working the land.

He purchased his first school bus in 1964. Ted was probably best known for his safe transporting of generations of Appleton school students for 31 years. He took great pride in his driving skills and punctuality, and especially the relationships developed with the kids over the years.

Ted was a rugged outdoorsman who was right at home in the woods: cutting, chopping, hunting and fishing; more of the latter two after moving on to retirement in 1995. He was invested in and proud of his lawn grooming, often seen engaging in a combination of mowing and sunbathing. A bit of a prankster, those who knew him may recall being teased and then hearing his delighted chuckle at the result.

He loved his family and friends deeply and shared a special bond with his sister, Polly, as hardly a day went by without them checking in with each other. He could at times be overheard grumbling over being invited to yet another family outing, only to attend and enjoy the fellowship, as much, if not more than anyone at the event. He was a loyal fan of local sports and well known for cheering on his offspring and community athletes from the bleachers and fields.

Ted had a great singing voice and could often be heard belting out a tune or whistling away at his North Appleton home on the hill. When he wasn't driving bus or working in the woods, he would be tinkering on something, a school bus, one of his treasured Ford pickups, an antique vehicle, a lawnmower, a chainsaw, you name it, he could fix it.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Anne (Hamlin) Johnson; his sisters, Pauline Hill of Searsmont and Sharon Bartlett of Westbrook; his son, Crosby (Lee) Johnson; his daughter, Katherine Bouchard and her companion, Gordon; and his son, Rick Johnson and his wife, Wanda, all of Appleton; his grandchildren, Shawn Bouchard and his wife, Michelle, of Somerville, Shelley Hickey and her husband, Wayne, of West Gardiner, Jared Johnson of Gulfport, Miss., Joseph Johnson of Bradenton, Fla., Johanna Pyle and her husband, Nathan, of Woodburn, Ind., Loretta McCue and her husband, Matt, of Waldoboro, Erika Johnson of Milwaukee, Wisc., Crosby Lincoln Johnson of Portland, and David Johnson of Union; his great-grandchildren, Monique Bouchard and her fiance, Joey Bearce, of Windsor, Jacky Porter and her husband, Jared, of Thomaston, Derek Bouchard and his companion, Liz, of Jefferson, Holton, Andrew and Gabriel Johnson of Gulfport, Miss., Cameo, Lila Jade, Isabel and Israel Farias, and Ellie Pyle, all of Woodburn, Ind., and Cole and Caden Hickey of West Gardiner; his great-great grandchildren, Ayden Basinet and Peyton Porter of Thomaston, and Aleeya and Avry Bearce of Windsor; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews; his special foster daughter, Diane Quinn of Pittston; and many, many extended family members, special neighbors and friends.

Graveside services will be held in the spring.

Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home.